Government forfeitures

May 23, 2013

Federal asset forfeiture is both an effective crime-fighting tool and a civil-liberties nightmare that has victimized many innocent citizens. Take a look back at some of the biggest cases involving corporations, kingpins and civilians. Take a look back at nation's biggest seizures and some controversial cases.

Winslow Townson

Motel Caswell

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Russ and Pat Caswell have owned their mom-and-pop motel in Tewksbury, Mass., for three decades. They live next door, and the bare-bones motel (rooms are $56 a night) is both their livelihood and their life savings. The Caswells own it outright, with no mortgage.

The couple was shocked when the feds filed papers to seize the motel in 2009, based on an assertion that frequent drug activity occurred there.

The Caswells fought back, with the help of the non-profit libertarian law firm, Institute for Justice. After years of legal infighting, U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Gail Dein heard testimony that only 15 low-level drug cases had been recorded at the motel over a seven-year period, during which the Caswells logged 196,000 room rentals. The forfeiture was denied.

Russ and Pat Caswell have owned their mom-and-pop motel in Tewksbury, Mass., for three decades. They live next door, and the bare-bones motel (rooms are $56 a night) is both their livelihood and their life savings. The Caswells own it outright, with no mortgage.

The couple was shocked when the feds filed papers to seize the motel in 2009, based on an assertion that frequent drug activity occurred there.

The Caswells fought back, with the help of the non-profit libertarian law firm, Institute for Justice. After years of legal infighting, U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Gail Dein heard testimony that only 15 low-level drug cases had been recorded at the motel over a seven-year period, during which the Caswells logged 196,000 room rentals. The forfeiture was denied.